Elon Musk has criticised the South African government by claiming that Starlink is not permitted to operate in South Africa because he is “not Black.” This statement, posted on his social media platform X, has sparked renewed discussion about South Africa’s business regulations and racial policies.
“Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I’m not black,” he said while replying to a post in which South African entrepreneur Robert Hersov claims that the country has “140 race-based laws in South Africa, all anti-white.”
The billionaire also replied with a “Yes” on another post, which claimed that “the South African government claimed Elon’s ‘unprogressive’ views were a key factor in their decision to prevent Starlink from operating in the country.”
In South Africa, companies must have at least 30% of their ownership or economic involvement owned by Black South Africans.
This rule is part of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy, which seeks to correct past economic inequalities from apartheid times by encouraging the economic involvement of disadvantaged groups.
What is Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy
The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy was implemented to address economic inequalities stemming from the apartheid era by encouraging Black ownership in strategic industries. While some maintain that it promotes economic inclusion, critics, including South Africa-born Musk, contend that it deters foreign investment and impedes technological advancement.
The controversy regarding Starlink’s operations in South Africa has been ongoing. On August 14, 2023, the South African government officially prohibited the import of Starlink kits, blocking citizens from accessing the satellite internet service.
Starlink operates in 17 African countries, including neighboring Namibia, Mozambique, and Botswana.
Musk’s latest comments follow his recent criticism of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, where he described the country’s land ownership laws as “racist” asking why Ramaphosa has “openly racist ownership laws”.
